Quiz about Geological Time and Clues to Earth's Past

Question 1

In which time period are we currently living, in the order of largest geological units to smallest?

Accepted Answer

Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch

Answer

Phanerozoic Eon, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch, Cenozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era, Phanerozoic Eon, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch

Answer

Phanerozoic Eon, Mesozoic Era, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch

Question 2

In what time period did Pangaea begin to break apart?

Accepted Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Precambrian Time

Answer

Paleozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 3

Which fossil is the youngest?

Accepted Answer

fossil C

Answer

fossil A

Answer

fossil B

Answer

fossils A and B are the same age

Question 4

Possible causes (*check all) for the mass extinction at the end of the Permian Period (Paleozoic Era)

Accepted Answer

Pangaea breaking apart

Accepted Answer

Meteorite impact

Accepted Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Climate change

Question 5

How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?

Accepted Answer

4.54 billion years old

Answer

5.5 billion years old

Answer

3.54 billion years old

Answer

4.6 million years old

Question 6

What geologic principles are best displayed here?

Accepted Answer

Superposition

Accepted Answer

Original horizontality

Answer

Cross-cutting relationships

Answer

Inclusions

Question 7

In this rock layer diagram there are two unconformities, a fault at E and an intrusion at D. Which unconformity occurred first?  How do you know?

Accepted Answer

Intrusion D occurred first because the instrusion has been moved by the fault.

Answer

The fault occurred first because it has moved the intrusion D.

Answer

Intrusion D occurred first because it can be seen in all of the rock layers.

Answer

Fault E occurred first because it is a normal fault.

Question 8

What is a principal that states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism

Answer

Catastrophism

Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Angular Unconformity

Question 9

This type of fossil would include nests, eggs, roots, burrows, and footprints.

Accepted Answer

trace

Answer

cast

Answer

mold

Answer

preserved remains

Question 10

What can we learn about by looking at fossils compared to current living things? (Choose 2)

Accepted Answer

They are evidence of ancient environments.

Accepted Answer

They can show how climates have changed over time (in particular plant fossils).

Answer

They're really cool.

Answer

That living things haven't changed much over time.

Question 11

Index fossils help with dating rocks in different locations for all of the reasons below EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

They left a lot of evidence behind which is useful for Paleontologists to study

Answer

They were abundant and lived in many locations

Answer

They lived for a short period of time

Answer

The rock layers they are found in are all dated around the same age

Question 12

Possible causes (*check all) for the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era)

Accepted Answer

Meteorite impact

Accepted Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Pangaea breaking apart

Answer

Climate change

Question 13

Cause for the mega-mammal mass extinction during the Cenozoic Era

Accepted Answer

Climate change

Answer

Pangaea breaking apart

Answer

Meteorite impact

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Question 14

In what era were invertebrates most common?

Accepted Answer

Early Paleozoic Era

Answer

Middle Paleozoic Era

Answer

Late Paleozoic Era

Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 15

Around how long ago did modern humans first evolve?

Accepted Answer

6 million years ago

Answer

7.2 million years ago

Answer

4.6 million years ago

Answer

980,000 years ago

Question 16

In what era were fish most common?

Accepted Answer

Middle Paleozoic Era

Answer

Early Paleozoic Era

Answer

Late Paleozoic Era

Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 17

In what era were amphibians most common?

Accepted Answer

Late Paleozoic Era

Answer

Early Paleozoic Era

Answer

Middle Paleozoic Era

Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 18

In what era were reptiles most common?

Accepted Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Early Paleozoic Era

Answer

Middle Paleozoic Era

Answer

Late Paleozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 19

In what era were mammals most common?

Accepted Answer

Cenozoic Era

Answer

Early Paleozoic Era

Answer

Middle Paleozoic Era

Answer

Late Paleozoic Era

Answer

Mesozoic Era

Question 20

Using the principle of cross-cutting relationships, how is the age of a fault or dike determined in relationship to rocks they cut through?

Accepted Answer

They are younger than the layers they are cutting through

Answer

The age cannot always be determined accurately

Answer

They are older than the layers they are cutting through

Answer

They are the same age as the rock layers

Question 21

What are common carbon film fossils? (check all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Fish

Accepted Answer

Plants

Answer

Reptiles

Answer

Shells

Question 22

Besides finding preserved remains, which type of fossil would most resemble an original organism?

Accepted Answer

Cast

Answer

Trace fossil

Answer

Carbon film

Answer

Mold

Question 23

Check all that describe geographic isolation

Accepted Answer

Mountains, Canyons, Wide rivers

Accepted Answer

Both populations evolve differently based on the environments in which they are living

Accepted Answer

Physical barriers separate a population from the rest of its species

Answer

A connection between two land masses that at times has been covered by a body of water

Question 24

What best describes relative age dating and its uses? (check more than 1)

Accepted Answer

Useful in sedimentary rocks

Accepted Answer

Gives a relative age compared to rocks and objects around it

Answer

Gives an exact age in years

Answer

Useful in igneous rocks

Question 25

What best describes absolute age dating and its uses? (check more than 1)

Accepted Answer

Gives an exact age in years

Accepted Answer

Useful in igneous rocks

Answer

Useful in sedimentary rocks

Answer

Gives a relative age compared to rocks and objects around it

Question 26

All is true about the development of the geological time scale EXCEPT...

Accepted Answer

Geologists use each layer of rock to create a new time interval within the geologic time scale.

Answer

Geologists use sudden changes in the fossil record to mark new intervals in the time scale.

Answer

Geologists noticed sudden changes in the fossil record from one layer to the next.

Answer

Geologists study and compare layers of rocks and fossils contained within them.

Question 27

What two things must be true of an item in order for its age to be calculate by using Carbon 14 (C-14) dating?

Accepted Answer

It must contain carbon (any organic matter)

Accepted Answer

It must be younger than around 50,000 - 60,000 years

Answer

It has to have a long half-life

Answer

It has to be an animal

Question 28

Sedimentary rocks form continuous layers until they thin out or hit a barrier:

Accepted Answer

Lateral continuity

Answer

Correlation

Answer

Original horizontality

Answer

Superposition

Question 29

In undisturbed (horizontal) rock layers, the oldest rocks are on the bottom:

Accepted Answer

Superposition

Answer

Correlation

Answer

Original horizontality

Answer

Lateral continuity

Question 30

Matching rocks and fossils from separate locations:

Accepted Answer

Correlation

Answer

Original horizontality

Answer

Superposition

Answer

Lateral continuity

Question 31

The extinction of many species on Earth within a short period of time:

Accepted Answer

Mass extinction

Answer

Catastrophism

Answer

Geographic isloation

Answer

Meteorite impact

Question 32

Where do coal beds form?

Accepted Answer

In oxygen-poor swamps within warm, wet climates

Answer

In forests around the world

Answer

Where salt deposits formed after ocean water receded

Answer

In areas where many eroded plants and rocks are deposited

Question 33

Which two geographic features can affect the evolution of a species or of a certain population of a species?

Accepted Answer

Land bridges

Accepted Answer

Geographic isolation

Answer

New species is introduced

Answer

Mass extinction

Geological Time and Clues to Earth's Past

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